Sir Roger Cholmley is a bold man, willing to tell his superiors to their faces that he believes they are at fault in not telling the King what is going on in the land, particularly in regard to the foreigners.

Sir Thomas More is an honest, kind and witty man who rises from being a Sheriff of London to Lord High Chancellor (the highest post in the kingdom) before being sent to jail and executed for obeying his conscience rather than the King.

The Sergeant at Arms is sent to offer the mob the King’s mercy on condition they cease and desist immediately; unfortunately, he comments aloud on their simple-mindedness and merely enrages them further.

Lady More is Sir Thomas’s wife. Much less well educated than any other member of her family, she cannot speak Latin, leaving her husband able to shut her out from conversation when he thinks she is talking too much.

The Third Messenger comes from the City Council to tell the Sheriff to hang the condemned prisoners in various locations around the city, and to get on with it. He also announces the Lord Mayor’s visit to More.